Spelunking: Deep beneath the Earth'€™ surface, visitors explore Ghost Cave in Sukabumi.

Those looking to get away from it all might try something more unsual, dozens of meters below the Earth'€™s surface in Ghost Cave, locally known as Guha Siluman, in the southern part of Sukabumi, West Java.

Located in Kampung Cipicung, Nyalindung, Ghost Cave comprises part of the Nyalindung karst formation. Karst is the combination of limestone, gypsum and other rocks that dissolve in natural acids underground.

Ghost Cave, estimated to be more than 60 million years old, is also known as the Buniayu Cave, referring to its remote and beautiful underground landscapes. Buni means hidden in Sundanese, while ayu means beautiful.

There'€™s also an element of the supernatural in the cave'€™s name. In the past, people living nearby were convinced that the underground cavern was home to various ghosts and spirits.

According to Iwan, a resident of Kampung Cipicung, the cave has at least 83 chambers. '€œOnly a small number of them have been explored.'€

In the depths: Visitors navigate through the stalagmites in Ghost Cave.
Iwan said that each chamber had its own passageway, varying in length and the time needed to explore.

'€œThe shortest passageway is about 200 meters long, while the longest is about 3,300 meters long. It takes approximately four or five hours to travel along the longest one,'€ said the tour guide, who also has the nickname Iwan Guha or Cave Iwan.

RKT Kho, George Robert, Michael Chassier and Seveau Arnoult were the first to map the cave compounds in 1982.

The four were experts in speleology, the study of caves. '€œSince 1994, the cave has been open to the public,'€ Iwan said.

Iwan said that the depth of the cave ranges from 20 to 50 meters.

There are two paths that lead deeper into the cave: A horizontal path and a vertical path. Those who have not had any experience in spelunking are recommended to take the horizontal path.

For some, entering the cave may directly bring about the impression that the cave is haunted. However, as you go deeper the initial impression will be replaced by amazement when seeing the extraordinary underground landscape.

Deeper: Visitors may encounter wildlife swept into the caves by flash floods that decided to make a go of it beneath the Earth.
Apart from stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes and sizes inside Ghost Cave, there are also underground rivers, springs and even waterfalls.

There are also other occupants of the cave, including bats, centipedes, crickets, fish, frogs, lizards, scorpions, shrimps, spiders and snakes.

According to Iwan, the cave is not the natural habitat for most of the animals found inside. '€œEvery time it rains heavily, storm water usually runs into the cave and brings several animals in and they are left trapped in the cave.'€

Although Ghost Cave is remote, it is easily found and lies about 45 minutes from downtown Sukabumi.

If you do not bring your own vehicle, you can take an angkot serving the Baros-Purabaya route from Sukabumi'€™s Jubleg terminal and get off at Kampung Cipicung in Nyalindung before walking or taking an ojek (motorcycle taxi).

Although Ghost Cave is fascinating, the dark environment and difficult terrain mean that those who are scared of the dark or who have medical conditions are advised not to venture inside.

Monstrous: A huge stalactite hangs from the ceiling in Ghost Cave.
'€” Photos By Djoko Subinarto